A Fruitland Park man was arrested for drunk driving with a child standing in the backseat after leaving the parking lot of a bar and grill.
An officer spotted the driver of a gold Cadillac, later identified as 36-year-old Anthony Michael Page, leaving the parking lot of Legends Café, located at 3323 U.S. Hwy. 27/441, around 7:51 p.m. Thursday, according to an arrest report from the Fruitland Park Police Department. He followed the vehicle for a short distance and saw it veer into the bicycle lane three times.
The officer subsequently initiated a traffic stop by activating his overhead emergency lights near State Road 25 and South Grays Airport, to which the vehicle did not initially react. Only after the officer turned on his emergency siren did the vehicle make its way to the right side of the road and stop, the report said.
The officer approached Page who he had already identified due to a previous call for service. As he got closer, he observed a juvenile standing in the back seat of the vehicle not wearing a seatbelt. He also noticed Page had the odor of alcoholic beverages on his breath, made stronger as he spoke, the report said.
Due to these observations, the officer asked Page to step out of the vehicle and participate in field sobriety exercises. His performance, including poor listening and coordination, led the officer to conclude that he was under the influence. Page was placed under arrest and taken to Lake County Jail for the booking process, the report said.
While at the jail, Page refused to submit to a breath test. He was read implied consent but again refused, the report said.
Page was charged with DUI and child neglect. He was also issued a written warning for failure to maintain lane. Bond was set at $1,000.